National News

Alec Baldwin in court in parking spot case

Video will vindicate Alec Baldwin after he was accused of slugging a man in the face over a parking space, the actor's lawyer says.

Baldwin himself said nothing as he was arraigned on a misdemeanour attempted assault charge and a charge of harassment in the latest of his several brushes with the law over the years.

The Emmy winner has previously denied he punched anyone in the car parking clash outside his Manhattan apartment building on November 2.

Lawyer Alan Abramson echoed that denial on Monday and added that "incontrovertible video evidence" proves it "beyond all doubt".

"Mr Baldwin did not commit any crime, and we are confident that once this matter is fully investigated, it will be resolved swiftly and appropriately in court," Abramson said.

Prosecutors said in court papers the 60-year-old star told a police officer the other driver "stole my spot", used a vulgarity to describe him, and acknowledged: "I did push him".

Baldwin, who came to court in a purple polo shirt and dark pants, didn't enter a plea.

He was released without bail and is due back in court on January 23.

Baldwin tweeted after his arrest that reports of the episode were "egregiously misstated".

His lawyer said the actor's reputation had been damaged by media reports that claim he punched a man on a New York City street.

The fracas began after the other driver pulled into a parking space that one of Baldwin's relatives was holding for him, and the two men started quarrelling and pushing each other, police said earlier this month.

A court complaint filed on Monday said the other driver told police Baldwin shoved him and hit him in the face with a closed hand, causing him pain.

Baldwin, the star of former television sitcom 30 Rock and current host of Match Game, has portrayed Republican President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live and recently started a talk show on the American Broadcasting Company.

In 1995 he was arrested after being accused of slugging a paparazzi photographer in Los Angeles.

Baldwin was thrown off a flight in 2011 after a dust-up with a flight attendant who asked him to turn off his phone.

And in 2014, the actor was arrested in New York for allegedly getting belligerent with police who said they stopped him for bicycling the wrong way on a one-way street.